Martensville’s Cohen Klassen was selected by the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League 2023 Prospects Draft.
The Pats didn’t have any picks available in the first two rounds of the draft, so were very excited to make Klassen their first selection in the draft with the 51st pick.
General manager John Paddock was pleased that Klassen was still available as they had him ranked higher on their draft board. Paddock described Klassen as a hard working two-way forward.
Last year with the Martensville U15AA Marauders Klassen scored 32 goals and had 29 assists in 24 games played while racking up 62 penalty minutes.
Klassen has signed to play with the Warman U18AAA Wildcats next year.
Another area player with a high selection was Corman Park’s Nigel Boehm. The talented defenceman was taken 28th overall by the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Boehm had 17 goals and 23 assists in 30 games played with the Saskatoon U15AA Generals and also saw playoff action with the Saskatoon U18AA Screaming Eagles.
In all there were 232 players selected which included 128 forwards, 88 defencemen and 16 goaltenders.
Prince Albert Raiders had the first two picks in the draft They selected Daxon Rudolph (Lacombe, AB) of Northern Alberta Extreme U15Prep with the first pick and Riley Boychuk (Cochrane, AB) of Airdrie Xtreme U15AAA.
Alberta led the way with 93 players selected; British Columbia had 50; Saskatchewan 44 ;and Manitoba 38 as well as some players from the United States.
Humboldt’s Dayne Beuker was the highest Saskatchewan player selected, going 14th overall by the Lethbridge Hurricanes. His Humblodt Broncos U15AA teammate Beckett Hamilton went 18th overall to the Red Deer Rebels.
Both players also saw action as affiliate players with the Warman U18AAA Wildcats last season.